Corn planter



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.v

r M. an A. SATTLEY 5M. HBINEKB.

CORN PLANTER.

'tion and in many of the details.

NiTnn STATES PATENT Trice..

SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO THE ING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SATTLEY MANUFACTUR- VCORN-PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 574,578, dated January5, 1897. I

Application filed March 23, 1896. Serial No. 584,453. (No model.)

To all whom. t may cm1/cern.-

Be it known that we, MARSHALL SATTLEY, ARCHIBALD SATTLEY, and MARTINHEINEKE, of S pringfeld, in the countyof Sangamon and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corn-Planters, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to various details of a planter, all of which arecapable of conjoint use. It is exemplified in the structure hereinafterdescribed, and it is dened in the appended claims.

In the drawings forming part of this speciiication, Figurel is a plan ofa planter embodying our improvements. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of themechanism used for lifting the runners and regulating their depth ofpenetration, such elevation being taken on sectional line X in Fig. l.Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a seed-hopper, shank, runner, and droppingmechanism7 a wall of the shank and a wing of the runner being brokenaway to expose the second drop. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the lowerend of the shank and rear end of a runner, parts being broken away andshowing the second drop in a discharging'position. Fig. 5 is a side Viewof the lift-lever and adj uncts thereof. Fig. 6 is a side elevation ofthe drill mechanism, parts of the frame being shown in section. Fig. 7is a plan of the drill mechanism. Fig. 8 is a perspective representationof the brackets used to connect the tongue with the front cross-bar ofthe runner-frame. Fig. 9 is a perspective representation of the bracketused to connect the tongue with the rear cross-bar of the runnerframe.

In making a planter having the different features of our inventionconsiderable latitude is permissible in the general construc-Vetherefore describe herein the preferred form and arrangement of partsthat combine with our improved devices to form a complete planter,permit the claims to distinguish between the old and the new, and leavethe old features to be constructed as we describe them or in any otherWay the maker may desire.

The tongue l is slotted at its rear end, as shown at l, and it issecured to the cross-bars of the front frame in a manner to behereinafter explained. The carryingwheels 2 2 are mounted on theaxle-shaft 4, and the shaft has bearings in a rear frame, of which bars6 G form an essential part. Seat 3 is supported from the rear end of therearframe, and its bar 5 extends forward and downward and is fastened tothe bracket 5, which is mounted on the axle-shaft. The runner-frame iscomposed of cross-bars 7 and 8, and the longitudinal bars of thewheel-frame connect with the front bar of the runner-frame throughbrackets 19 19. Bracket 9 (shown in detail in Fig. 9) is used to connectthe tongue with the rear cross-bar of the runner-frame. It comprises abase orseat portion and u pwardly-turned lugs thereon. It has holes 9 inthe lugs, through which the bolt passes that connects the bracket withthe tongue, and it has the slot 9b in its seat portion, which providesfor the bolt that secures the bracket to the cross-bar. Brackets l0,which are shown in detail in Fig. S, connect the tongue with thecross-bar S. They each comprise a seat portion and an upward extension.The upward extensions have arc slots l0 concentric with holes 9 ofbracket 9. The inner faces of such extensions are corrugated orroughened, as shown at 10C, and the seat portions have slots, as lOl.

The brackets 9 and l0 provide for adjustment of the tongue to conform todifferent heights in teams, and also enable the tongue to be set trulycentral with relation to the planter. on which the tongue swings whenchanging the height of its forward end. The slots l()b permit thebrackets l0 to be disengaged from the tongue. The slots l0-L permit thetongue to swing, and the roughened or corrugated surfaces l0c aid inholding the tongue firmly in position when the bolts are tightened.

The slot 9b in bracket 9 enables the tongue to be swung to one side orthe other to find the precise center of draft, and this feature willaccommodate a tongue that is somewhat crooked, as it will enable thefront end to be put into the proper position, 'L'. e., in line With thecenter of the planter.

The seed-hoppers 1l are preferably circular, and their distinguishingThe bolt in bracket 9 forms a pivotv peculiarity is that ico their lowerportions are contracted to such an extent that the teeth of thedisk-actuating wheel 44 are exposed. By means of this peculiarity thepaw] 43, that imparts motion to the seed-disk, and, in fact, all thedropping mechanism except the cut-off and seed-disk is accessible fromoutside the hopper, and repairs or adj ustment-s may be made withfacility and without disturbing the corn in the hopper.

The cheek-row heads 12 are fastened to the ends of the cross-bars 7 andS. rl`he checkrow shaft 14 is preferably prismatic in crosssection inorder that the different arms connected therewith may line up properlyand be free from danger of slippage. It has rocking bearings in collarslocated in the checkrow heads and in the ruimer-Shanks 20, and it hasthe customary forked levers 13 on its ends. Arms 15 are suitablyfastened onto the check-row shaft, and they are provided with pawls, as43, that actuate the toothed wheels 44 of the seed-disks. Another arm onthe rock-shaft provides a point of connection for the retractile spring1S, and still other arms 21 are fastened to the shaft in position toengage the rods 22 of the second drop devices. Castings 1G extendforward from the front bar of the runner-frame, and they connect withthe upper forward ends of the runners 17. The Shanks 2O of the runnersare divided internally into two compartments by partitions 42. The rearcompartments 41 form chutes for passage of seed, and the frontcompartments contain the rods 22, that impart motion to the second dropdevices. In the lower end of each shank is placed a second drop-valvethat. is swung on a transverse pivot and is located immediately belowthe partition 42, which forms the front wall of the grain-chute. Thevalve has a finger 38, that normally extends across the seed-chute andforms a closure therefor. lt has an upward extension 3o', the uppersurface of which is concentric with the pivot of the valve. It has arearward-extended arm 35, with which rod 22 connects, and a seed-cell isformed at 7 between the finger 38 and the upper extension 3G.Immediately in the rear of the valve is a swinging door 3),that is heldyieldingly closed l by a spring, as 40, or other suitable means.

\Vhen the planter is used for planting in check-rows, the corn fallsfrom the hopper onto finger 3S and is held in the cell 37 until the nextrow is reached, when motion of the check row shaft is imparted to thevalve through rod 22, and the corn is thrown downward and backward witha force depending entirelyon the speed of the team that is drawing theplanter. rThis effectually neutralizcs the tendency of a fast-walkingteam to carry past, t'. e., to deposit, the seed beyond the propercheck-row line, and the desired result is obtained largely through thedirection of throw. If a grain of corn should tend to wedge between thevalve and the rear wall of the ch nte, the rear door 39 will yieldsufiiciently to save the grain from crushing and permit its passage tothe ground. It is a part of the function of the planter, however, todrill corn, and in that case the second dropvalve is not needed. Toprovide for its detachment in such case, the upper end of the shank iscut through, as shown at a, and the arm 21 is formed, as shown in Fig.7, supplied with the extended bearing-finger 2ln and clamped to thecheck-row shaft in amanner permitting` sliding adjustment thereon. Thenit is desired to detach the second drop, the arm 21 is moved ou theshaft until the finger 21 is clear of rod 22, the pivot of the valve iswithdrawn, and the rod and the valve are taken out through the openingor cutaway portion of the shank. Their replacement of course requires areversal of the operation just described.

The mechanism used to drill the seed comprises an arm' 55 on thecheck-row shaft, a connecting-rod extending backward from arm to arm 47on shaft 45, and a trip-finger 4G on shaft 45, connected with arm 47 andadapted to receive motion from tappets (5l ou wheel GO. rlhe shaft 45has bearings in a journal-casting 5G, that is fastened on one of theside bars of the rear frame. The arm 47 is fastened to the shaft, and ithas a recess into which a lateral projection 4S of the trip-iin gerextends. The correlation of the trip-finger and the arm is such thatdownward motion of the trip-finger is imparted to the arm through thelateral projection of the trip-finger, but upward motion of thetripfmger does not affect the arm. This peculiarity insures transmissionof motion from wheel GO to the check-row shaft when the planter ismoving forward, and permits the planter to move backward withoutbreaking the drill mechanism. The freedom of motion in one directionwhich is given to the tripfinger, for the reason just explained, permitsdevelopment of backlash, and when the planter is run at considerablespeed or when the corn is drilled at very short intervals such backlashmay present the end of the trip-finger to a tappet and either lock thewheel or break the trip-iin ger. To avoid this, a spring 51 is made toconnect an extension 4f) on the trip-linger with a lug 50 on arm 47, andthe function of the spring is to neutralize the backlash without interfering with upward swing of the trip-finger in case the team shouldmove backward while the planter is in operative position. rlhe rod 53has a turnbuckle 52, by means of which the throw of the checkrow shaftmay be regulated, and arm 54 has a stop-finger 55, that strikes againstcross-bar S and limits the forward inoperative throw of the drillmechanism. An arm 58 is fixed to cross-bar 7 of the front frame, and isconnected with the shaft 45 in such way that when the front frame israised, preparatory to turning or traveling, the shaft will be rocked ina direction and to an extent sufficient to lower the trip-finger out ofthe path IOO IIO

of the tapp'ets. The means employed in this instance to connect the arm58 with the shaft 45 consists of a chain 59, which connects with thebolt that fastens the foot-lever 57 to the shaft, but other connectionsare obvious.

When the planter is used for planting in check-rows, the trip-nger isturned forward out of the way of the tappets, spring 5l being rstdisconnected at one end, and under these conditions the drill mechanismother than the tappets and trip-iinger may be used in connection withfoot-lever 57 for checking short rows. The foot-lever is fastened ontothe inner end of shaft 45, and it extends rearward in position to beeasily reached by the driver.

The wheel 60 is fastened toa carrying-wheel 2. It has numerous holes, as60a, circumferentially disposed, and with some of such holes the tappetsG1 engage. By means of the numerous holes or equivalent provision forchanging the locations of the tappets such tappets maybe set to drillthe grains any required distance apart.

The mechanism employed to raise the runners clear of the ground and toregulate the depth of planting is constructed as follows: A lever 23 ispivoted on the axle-shaft and extends both forward and backward thereof.It also has an L projection 25, extending downward beneath theaxle-shaft or thereabout and forming, with the front extension, abell-crank lever. Link 29 extends upward from the front end of the leverand connects with casting 27 on the rear end of the tongue, bothconnect-ions of the link being pivotal. A foot-rest 26 is connected withthe rear end 24 of the lever, and links 30 connect extension 25 with thedownward extension 3l of the hand-lever. The tongue is slotted at l toreceive the handlever, a holt extends through the tongue and thehand-lever, forming a pivot for the latter, and a notched arc or rack 32is fastened to the tongue adjacent to the hand-lever. The hand-lever hasa bolt adapted to engage notches of the rack and hold the runners raisedor at any desired depth in the ground. Such bolt extends bef yond theface of the rack, and the guard-iinger 34 is pivoted to the front end ofthe rack in position to be swung against the stop projection 33 of therack. Vh'en the inger is in such position, as shown in Fig. 5, itprevents the bolt from entering all notches except the last or rearwardone, and so permits the runners to rise and fall subject only topressure from the drivers feet on foot-rests 28 and 2G. rlhe links 30are separated sufficiently to permit t-he front end of lever 23 to passbetween them, and the tongue, front frame, and runners are raisedthrough link 29 either by use of the hand-lever or of the foot-lever, orof both together.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent- 1. Liftingmechanism forplanters,compris ing ahand-lever pivoted in the front frame, a bell-crank lever swung on ahorizontal pivot in the rear frame and engaging the front frame with oneof its arms, and a link connecting the other arm of the bell-crank leverwith the lower end of the hand-lever.

2. Lifting mechanism for planters,compris ing a hand-lever pivoted inthe front frame, a bell-crank lever swung on a horizontal pivot in therear frame and engaging the front frame with one of its arms, afoot-pressure arm extended rearward from the bell-crank lever, and alink connecting the other arm of the bell-crank lever with thehand-lever.

3. Liftingmechanism forplanters,compris ing a hand-lever pivoted in thefront frame, a bell-crank lever swung on a horizontal pivot in the rearframe, a link extending upward from the front end of the bell-cranklever and connecting with the front frame, and a link connecting thedownward-extended arm of the bell crank lever with the hand-lever.

4. Lifting mechanism for planters,con1pris ing a hand-lever pivoted in arearward exten' sion of the tongue, a bell-crank lever pivoted on theaxle-shaft of the rear frame, a link extending upward from an arm of thebellcrank lever and connecting with the tongue, a link connecting theother arm of the bell-crank lever with the lower end of the hand-lever,a foot-pressure arm extending rearward from the bell-crank lever, and afoot-rest on the rear end of the tongue.

5. Lifting mechanism for planters, comprising a hand-lever pivoted inthe front frame and supplied with a lock-bolt, a bell-crank lever swungin the rear frame on a horizontal pivot and engaging the front framewith one of its arms, a link connecting the other arm of the bell-cranklever with the hand-lever, a rack adjacent to the hand-lever and thinnerthan the lock-bolt thereof, and a guard-linger adapted to be swungalongside the rack and whenso swung to hold the bolt from engagementwith notches of the rack.

6. Lifting mechanism forplanters,compris ing` a hand-lever pivoted inthe tongue, a bellcrank lever pivoted on the axle-shaft of the rearframe, a link connecting one end of the bell-crank lever with the end ofthe tongue, and a two-part link connecting the other end of thebell-crank lever with the hand-lever, such two-part link being separatedto permit play of forward arm of bell-crank lever.

7. Drill mechanism for planters, comprising a drive-wheel havingtappets, a trip-finger mounted loosely on a shaft and adapted to beactuated by the tappets of the wheel, a rock` arm on the shaft havingsuch engagement with the trip-linger as to partake of its motion in onedirection only, a spring between the rock-arm and the trip-iingertending to arrest backlashvof the trip-finger, and a rod connecting therock-arm with the drop-actuating shaft of the planter.

8. Drill mechanism for planters, comprising a drive-wheel havin g tappets, a trip-fm ger IOO IIC'

the path thereof, a rock-arm fixed on the shaft, connected with thedrop-actuating shaftof the planter, and adapted to receive motion i fromthe trip-finger, and a toot-lever also 'fixed on the shaft of therock-arm.

lO. A front fra-ine of a planter consisting, essentially, of twocross-bars. a tongue connected with the rear bar in any suitable manner,and brackets 10 having slot-s l0n and 1.0, and roughened faces 10C, suchbrackets being ad justably secured to the front cross-bar and providingfor vertical adjustment of the tongue, all in combination.

11.V A front frame of a planter consisting,

essentially, of two cross'bars, a tongue con-V nected with the front barin any suitable 1n anner, and a b 1aeket 9 connected with the rearcrossvbar through slot 9 and with the tongue through holes D,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we sign our naines in the presence of twosubscribing Witnesses.

MARSHALL SATTLEY. ARCHIBALD SATTLEY. MARTIN IIEINEKE. Attest:

M. A. CHRISTY, I. II. MATHENY.

